– A Time-Traveling Slasher That Knows Exactly What It Is
Totally Killer is one of those movies that doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not—and because of that, it works. It’s a popcorn horror flick with a fun twist of time travel, and it’s exactly the kind of movie you throw on for a relaxed weekend night in. It’s not groundbreaking, just entertaining.
Kiernan Shipka continues to be an interesting actor to watch. She caught my attention in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and since then, she’s been steadily showing up in a variety of projects. In Red One, she was fine, and in Twisters, her role was too small to make much of a mark. I liked what she brought to The Last Showgirl, especially early on, but the story didn’t give her enough space as a supporting character to really shine. In Totally Killer, she’s solid—not spectacular, but she fits the tone of the film and carries it well enough.
What makes the movie fun is its blend of slasher tropes with a time-travel twist. The plot is playful: a teenager ends up traveling back to the 1980s to stop a serial killer before the original murders happen. It’s the kind of story that could’ve easily gone off the rails, but instead it balances just enough humor, horror, and nostalgia to keep you engaged. The 80s setting is well done, the jokes land without being overdone, and the horror elements are spooky enough to satisfy the genre without being overly gruesome.
The movie also pokes fun at both eras—modern and 80s—without getting too meta, which adds to the charm. It’s self-aware in a way that feels fun, not forced.
In the end, Totally Killer is exactly what it sets out to be: a fun, fast-paced horror-comedy with a time-travel twist. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s what makes it enjoyable.
